Timothy Bradley interview

By Miguel Maravilla
Photos: Chris Farina / Top Rank

Undefeated WBO welterweight champion Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley Jr. (29-0, 12 KOs) held a media workout Tuesday afternoon at the Fortune Gym in Hollywood, California as he prepared for his upcoming title defense against Russia’s Ruslan Provodnikov (22-1, 15 KOs). Bradley vs. Provodnikov will take place Saturday March 16 live on HBO from the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. “Training camp is good, unbelievable, working on the technique. Just trying to sit on my punches, trying to punch harder. My speed is always there. I have been sparring with Omar Figueroa and Dashon Johnson. We are working together good,” Bradley told Fightnews.com. “Figueroa has prepared me very well. He brings so much pressure he is annoying,” Bradley of his sparring partner.

The pride of Palm Springs, California as always was intense during his workout for media as he worked with trainer Joel Diaz under the watchful eye of his father. Team Bradley knows what they have in store come March 16 as he has gone all out on his training camp for Provodnikov.

“His training is good physically he is in great shape. We always train hard we don’t take anything light. We don’t underestimate any opponent. We prepare like it’s the last fight,” Diaz said.

“Joel and I are off the chain he knows me like the back of his head, he knows what kind of work I will put in while we train,” Bradley added.

The champion talked boxing with the media prior to his workout as he was getting his hands wrapped by Diaz. The main discussion being trainer Freddie Roach’s tweet about Bradley. Then he was asked about Mayweather-Guerrero, Lamont Peterson’s KO win over Kendall Holt, Adrien Broner, Manny Pacquiao, and the 140, 147 weight divisions. Bradley then talked about his upcoming showdown with Ruslan Provodnikov.

“This is the only guy that wanted to fight. You have a fighter trying to take my title. He thinks he is going to do it but it’s not going to happen,” Bradley commented on Provodnikov.

“Provodnikov is very basic he comes forward but can’t fight going backwards. He wants you to exchange, has power in his right hand and focuses a lot on his right hand. He will come in try to beat Bradley but Bradley is going to shine. It’s the perfect opponent for Bradley,” Diaz stated about Bradley’s opponent.

This will be Bradley’s first defense of his WBO welterweight title as he is coming off a controversial split decision win over Manny Pacquiao last June. In that fight Timothy Bradley broke his foot in the early rounds but managed to go the distance and exchange in the process.

“My foot is good. I am one hundred percent, it healed up,” Bradley said. “Don’t miss it. It will be an exciting night. I always bring the intensity to the ring baby. March 16 I am going for that win. I always get the win, that’s what we do. We’re winners here!”